Removable stent

Abstract

An illustrative endoluminal implant having an elongated tubular member. The elongate tubular member having a proximal stent, a distal stent and an interconnecting sleeve. The proximal stent tapers from a first outer diameter adjacent the proximal end region to a second smaller outer diameter adjacent the distal end region. The distal stent has an outer diameter less than the first outer diameter of the proximal stent. The interconnecting sleeve is collapsible in response to an applied radial force such that the sleeve is positionable across a natural valve or sphincter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implant, the implant comprising:
 an elongated tubular member comprising:
 a first region defining a proximal end of the implant, the first region including a proximal stent frame; 
 a second region defining a distal end of the implant, the second region including a distal stent frame having a length extending along a longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member; and 
 a retrieval suture having a distal region interwoven with the distal stent frame along the length of the distal stent frame, and a proximal region interwoven with the proximal stent frame, the retrieval suture defining a plurality of spaced apart suture loops connected by a plurality of longitudinal sections, wherein distal actuation of the retrieval suture sequentially constrains the plurality of spaced apart suture loops to sequentially constrain the distal and proximal stent frames, such that distal actuation of the retrieval suture first reduces a diameter of the distal stent frame and after the diameter of the distal stent frame is at least partially reduced, further distal actuation of the retrieval suture constrains the proximal stent frame. 
   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal sections each have a slack portion configured such when a first suture loop is constrained to reduce the diameter of the distal stent frame, and an adjacent suture loop is not actuated until the slack portion is taken up from a preceding longitudinal section. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart suture loops includes a first suture loop interwoven within a distal end region of the distal stent frame. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart suture loops includes a second suture loop interwoven within a distal end region of the proximal stent frame. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 4 , wherein the proximal stent frame has a flared proximal end tapering radially inward toward a distal end of the proximal stent frame. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 5 , wherein the distal stent frame has an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of the flared proximal end of the proximal stent frame. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 5 , wherein when the elongated tubular member is in a fully constrained configuration, the flared proximal end of the proximal stent frame is not constrained. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the retrieval suture is a single long continuous length of material. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart suture loops extends entirely around a circumference of the distal stent frame and/or the proximal stent frame. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein a length of each of the plurality of longitudinal sections is greater than a distance between adjacent suture loops. 
     
     
         11 . An implant, the implant comprising:
 an elongated tubular member comprising:
 a first region defining a proximal end of the implant, the first region including a proximal stent frame with a flared proximal end tapering radially inward to a distal end of the proximal stent frame; 
 a second region defining a distal end of the implant, the second region including a distal stent frame having a length extending along a longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member; and 
 a retrieval suture having a distal end defining a retrieval suture loop, a distal region interwoven along the length of the distal stent frame, and a proximal region interwoven with the proximal stent frame, the retrieval suture defining a plurality of spaced apart suture loops connected by a plurality of longitudinal sections, wherein distal actuation of the retrieval suture sequentially constrains the plurality of spaced apart suture loops to sequentially constrain first the distal and then the proximal stent frames; 
   wherein the first region includes a flexible sleeve extending between the proximal stent frame and the distal stent frame, wherein a first longitudinal section of the plurality of longitudinal sections of the retrieval suture extends along a length of the flexible sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein distal actuation of the retrieval suture first reduces a diameter of the distal stent frame and after the diameter of the distal stent frame is at least partially reduced, further distal actuation of the retrieval suture constrains the proximal stent frame. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart suture loops includes a first suture loop interwoven within a distal end region of the distal stent frame. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart suture loops includes a second suture loop interwoven within a distal end region of the proximal stent frame. 
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 14 , wherein the first longitudinal section of the retrieval suture extending along the flexible sleeve has a slack portion configured such when the first suture loop is constrained to reduce a diameter of the distal stent frame, the second suture loop is not actuated until the slack portion is taken up. 
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein when in a fully collapsed configuration, the flared proximal end of the proximal stent frame is not constrained. 
     
     
         17 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein the retrieval suture is a single long continuous length of material. 
     
     
         18 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart suture loops extends entirely around a circumference of the distal stent frame and/or the proximal stent frame. 
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 11 , wherein a length of each of the plurality of longitudinal sections is greater than a distance between adjacent suture loops. 
     
     
         20 . An implant, the implant comprising:
 an elongated tubular member comprising:
 a first region defining a proximal end of the implant, the first region including a proximal stent frame with a flared proximal end tapering radially inward to a distal end of the proximal stent frame; 
 a second region defining a distal end of the implant, the second region including a distal stent frame having a length extending along a longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member; and 
 a retrieval suture having a distal region interwoven along the length of the distal stent frame, and a proximal region interwoven with the proximal stent frame, the retrieval suture defining a plurality of spaced apart suture loops connected by a plurality of longitudinal sections, wherein distal actuation of the retrieval suture sequentially constrains the plurality of spaced apart suture loops to sequentially constrain the distal stent frame and the proximal stent frame, wherein distal actuation of the retrieval suture first reduces a diameter of the distal stent frame and after the diameter of the distal stent frame is at least partially reduced, further distal actuation of the retrieval suture constrains the proximal stent frame, wherein when the elongated tubular member is in a fully constrained configuration, the flared proximal end of the proximal stent frame is not constrained.